Aboriginal transportation routes and trade were vital to the survival of both the early and historic inhabitants of the northwest region. Trails formed the travel and communication networks allowing people to travel, trade, interact, and access hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering areas. These pathways were the ancient roads, connecting villages and land use areas across the landscape. Trails often began as travel corridors which over time were revised slightly by their users until the most efficient, stable and most easily traveled routes were developed. Centuries of foot travel along these routes resulted in well-defined and compacted soil impressions and are sometimes still visible today. Many of these same routes have eventually become the asphalt commuter routes that many of us use; for example, portions of the Telegraph Trail have become portions of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37 North).

Very few trails have been documented in the region with the exception of portions of the Telegraph Trail. It is one of Kleanza’s goals to spread the awareness of trails and their importance throughout the province, to ensure their appropriate documentation and recording prior to development activities. Each new piece of trail recorded can be added to an existing database of trails located in the northwest.